Coq: Play me anyplace, anywhere, anytime

Francis Coquelin insists that playing time is more important to him than being played in his favoured position as he looks to consolidate his status as a first team squad member at Arsenal.

The young Frenchman is effectively first choice back-up to Mikel Arteta in the defensive midfield holding role, but despite the Spaniard’s bill of clean health has still found himself featuring in the centre of the park.

Looking back on his eight appearances so far this season, the 21-year-old told Arsenal Player he’s just happy to be on the pitch.

“I’m happy to get a few chances there [in midfield]. I enjoyed playing full back too last season, I will play anywhere, I just want to play. But I’m really pleased this season because midfield is what I enjoy most.”

While he’s so far garnered playing time in all three competitions, particularly impressing in the COC, the Coq made clear he is now used to being swapped in and out of proceedings.

“Well obviously it can be hard, when you have tasted the Premier League, and tasted the Champions League, you want to play every week.

“But that’s the same for every player, whether you are 17 or 32. I want to play every week. I’m a bit restricted because there are players ahead of me doing well, so I have to be patient, even though it’s hard, and when my time comes it’s up to me to show what I can do.

“I know if I perform well I’ll play. I think every time I’ve been selected this season I have done well, so hopefully there will be plenty more chances coming for me.”

Meanwhile, Arsene Wenger has reflected on the flat atmosphere at the Emirates in recent weeks and accepted it is the responsibility of his side to excite the crowd and not necessarily the other way round.

“We just have to play good games. The atmosphere comes from the team, not the fans, and we have to think like that,” Wenger said.

“The vibes come out with the quality of our game, the fans are behind the team. That is what is about us.

“I agree we had one or two flat games at home, especially against Schalke, even the game against QPR.

“I believe that it is down to the quality of our game – that is our responsibility.”

I don’t think you’re quite grasping the concept of playing a player in his natural position. His youth coach classed him as a striker, thus his natural position has been determined, regardless of whether superior coaches disagree.

I just think if you take in to account that he’s got acceleration, timing of runs and possible finishing ability. He could *easily* be our Hernandez. You only have to look at his recent performances at DMC to see that he could easily fire us to glory if given a chance up front.

Please do an article on Santos being a lovely gay. Just like the Coq jokes the Santos gay jokes just never get old, even after seeing the 250+ times here. I mean who wouldnt find a typo on twitter hilarious one year later

I believe we have enough people at the moment that want to play up front…. he’s actually saying he’d like to play the open full back spot, and quite honestly – I’d have to agree. the Coq over TV for Left Back

really? yet we’re creating absolutely ziltch.
we”ve been playing shite for a while now and just so happens its reflecting on the results. I hope good players like cazorla and young jack dont get sapped into mediocrity.

I’d be happy to see our coq primed and ready for action anywhere. We need to keep our coq excited at all times, so stick it in any position and see what happens. I prefer him in midfield, but at times I wonder if our coq is hard enough for a holding roll.

In many respects he reminds me of Flamini, but he’s perhaps a touch quicker – he certainly has the bite and tenacity as well as the ability to pass the ball. But is he better than lego hair? Not yet, no. Let’s just hope he stays happy on the fringes, knowing that he’s in the box seat for the central role when it’s there for the taking. That’ll be a £20m saving, right there.

Giroud is the last person in the side who deserves criticism at the moment. He always works hard, which cannot be said of many of the others around him. A bigger problem is that no one seems capable of giving him chances. His movement is good, but the delivery into the box has been shockingly poor recently.
Podolski and Vermaelen have been far worse than Giroud recently, despite being more experienced and more highly rated – why is the focus so much on Giroud?

Coquelin should start left back and Verm can play midfield. Coquelin has the pace and positional sense for the fullback spot (better than Tommy anyway), and can be effective going forward. Vermaelen has been a bit of liability in defence recently, but could be useful in midfield, potentially providing some of that physical power that has been missing since Diaby got injured.

magic hat I understand his predicament too well but hey he is not the only player to come to the EPL this season. How about Carzola and Harzard? Anyone seen Kevin Miralas, brought in from Olympiacos,a much lower league compared to Ligue 1 where Giroud emerged the highest goal scorer, score goal with ease for Everton? Please we should stop defending Giruod blindly. The poor lad is probably not so good enough for the EPL

Two boys are playing football on a park in London. Suddenly a dog appears and sinks its teeth into the younger boy’s chest. The elder picks up stick and drives it through the dog’s heart, killing it. A reporter observes all of this and asks the boy if he can write a story on it. He takes out a notebook and puts down the title “ARSENAL FAN SAVES FRIEND’S LIFE” The boy says
“I don’t support Arsenal”. so the reporter puts down “CHELSEA FAN SAVES FRIEND’S LIFE” The boy says “I don’t support Chelsea”,so the reporter asks “Who do you support?”, and the boy replies “Man U”. So, the reporter writes down “GLORY HUNTING IDIOT KILLS FAMILY PET”